Clubbing is changes in the areas under and around the toenails and fingernails, and in the nails themselves that may occur with some disorders.
Alternative Names
Clubbing
Considerations
Common symptoms of clubbing:
The nail beds soften. The nails may seem to "float" instead of being firmly attached.
The angle that the nail makes with its cuticle increases.
The last part of the finger may seem large or bulging. It may also be warm and red.
The nail curves downward, similar to the shape of the round part of an upside-down spoon.
Clubbing can develop quickly, often within weeks. It also can go away quickly when its cause is treated.
Common Causes
Lung cancer is the most common cause of clubbing. Clubbing often occurs in heart and lung diseases that reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood, such as:
Infection of the lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (infectious endocarditis), which can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or other infectious substances
Lung disorders in which the deep lung tissues become swollen and then scarred (interstitial lung disease)
There is no treatment for the clubbing itself. The cause of clubbing can be treated, however.
References
Murray JF, Schraufnagel DE. History and physical examinations. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 17.
Review Date:
5/1/2011
Reviewed By:
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
